2009 Executive Office news releases

Executive, local and state leaders calls on Legislature for local funding options to support public health
As local public health officials respond to the continuing threat of the H1N1 virus (swine flu), King County Executive Ron Sims, local and state elected leaders called on the state legislature to give local communities the tools and the choice to support the public health services they value at a time when funding has dropped to dangerous levels.

Statement from Executive Sims on swine flu cases
We are now in the type of worldwide health situation that King County has spent years planning and preparing for. The probable cases of swine flu here in Washington serve as a reminder to all of us that we are a community of connected individuals, each with a role to play in keeping each other safe.

Sims on Senate bill for counties
On behalf of the people of King County, I would like to commend the State Legislature for their recent approval of 2SSB 5433, a package of revenue tools that will help counties throughout Washington State.

Partnership developing to preserve habitat, working forest in Raging River headwaters
This is one of the last remaining large, privately held open spaces in King County and the single-largest unprotected block of land remaining in King County’s portion of the Mountains to Sound Greenway. It includes some 7,000 acres in the upper Raging River watershed, east of State Route 18 near the highway’s junction with Interstate 90.

April furlough
On Friday, April 10, 2009, most King County staff will be off and most county buildings will be closed as the county takes the third of 10 furlough days in 2009 to cut operational costs countywide. All department employees, with limited exceptions, such as those in public safety functions, are included in the furlough plan.

Earth Hour
King County tomorrow night will officially support Earth Hour 2009, a global climate event led by the World Wildlife Fund.

Affordable housing
Finding and keeping affordable housing is becoming more difficult for the King County residents with the fewest economic options, such as low income households. Many of them are also paying more than they can afford to keep a roof over their head, according to the new King County Benchmarks Affordable Housing Bulletin released this week. Updated with two years of new data, the bulletin is part of the county's 11th annual report on progress in implementing countywide planning policies.

Blogs
March snow and ice gave King County’s new blog a good test run over the weekend as Metro Transit started using the KCNews blog and the existing KCNews Twitter feed to improve communication with its riders and the media.

King County adopts new health benefits
Building on the innovative principles of its groundbreaking health reform initiative, King County labor and management leaders have approved a new three-year agreement on a health care plan for the county’s employees and their families.

Delays continue for some Metro bus routes
Some King County Metro Transit buses continue to run late this morning due to operating with chains and widespread traffic congestion. Also, some buses are very full and are not able to stop to pick up more passengers at some stops.